Giddy Up Angel

Giddy Up, situated in a corner of Islington Green, near Waterstones, is the perfect blend of unassuming grace (a spartan hut with an espresso machine) and coffee know-​how (minus the pretentiousness). The place caught my eye after I read it had been recommended by none other than James Murphy, of LCD Soundsystem fame, Purveyor of Good Taste, reader of Thomas Pynchon and William Gaddis.
I travelled a not inconsiderable distance down the Northern line for the privilege of a flat white (price: £2.40).
I had a good conversation with the barista about Things Coffee — the beans (Square Mile), the milk (a whole milk variety, chosen so as to not interfere too heavily with the coffee flavour), and the gear (expensive espresso machine).
The coffee itself was constructed with great care — the grounds measured out to exaction on the scales, the milk layered in to create a beautiful pattern in the crema above the caffeinated fray.
How did it taste? A bitter start followed by a silky smooth finish. It was deep. There might’ve been some plum involved. The parabola of stimulation, from the initial flush, the moment the caffeine works its toxicological lexicon into your nervous system to the nadir of the trip, where the synovial fluid seems a little more lubricated, the gaps between neurones diminished, to the inevitable bottoming-​out, was seamless, the comedown subtle.
I’m not going to draw parallels between coffee drinkers and heroin addicts. But if I were to do that — the love of the impedimenta, the paraphernalia, crucial for a good fix, the silky hit, the velvet stranglehold — I would involve Giddy Up in that parallel. It would be the heroin user’s chosen Site of Caffeination.

I wholeheartedly recommend Giddy Up.
Giddy Up is a little pop-​up coffee spot and happens to serve my favorite coffee in the area. I’m not sure of its exact schedule, but Giddy Up is typically set up outside the Waterstones by Islington Green in Angel on the weekends. I go out of my way to get my coffee here. The man who runs this spot is also very friendly and extremely knowledgeable about coffee.
Definitely go for the flat white. They also serve doughnuts from time to time but can’t speak to those.

Conundrum: dog & coffee run. Both?
Not wanting to tie Dame Tillie up outside a coffee shop (I won’t) and not wanting to make separate runs for a dog walk and a coffee, I like to streamline.
Giddy Up Angel (on the Green) let’s me do just this, and keep everyone (including me!) happy and on task.
It’s a mobile, artisan coffee shop. WONDROUS.
This outpost (there are 4) serves SquareMile coffee, the chap was very friendly, our lattes were up in a jif and we were on our way. Minus the chaos of coffee shops in Saturday Angelville.
*cash only.
Also — I have now discovered they operate out of Floripa in Shoreditch (nearer to me!) so, bonus.

I was dubious and excited about visiting Giddy Up in Angel, ever since I heard about the location. In fact it made me even more eagar to visit when I was in the capital a few weeks ago. I mean serving coffee fine coffee? From a cart? Outdoors? On a patch of greenery?!
Located about a 10 minute walk from Angel Underground station, I was able to locate Giddy Up on my approach to Islington Green the GU gazebo lit up like a beacon of coffee goodness.
When I arrived there were about 4 people waiting for coffees on a sunny Sunday afternoon. My drink of choice is a soy Flat White, however on this day, they had no soya milk. Which is cool because these things happen…
Giddy Up were using Square Mile Deri Kochi Sidamo which I had as an Americano. Personally I found these beans to be more sweet for liking but you are never going to like every brew you taste!
It was really lovely to geek out with the barista from one to another about coffee. He was a friendly and enthusiastic chap who gave me some other tips of places in London to try out. I’m sorry but I forgot your name!
Giddy Up in Angel is a ideal spot to pick up a brew on the go or to sit and relax on the lovely benches on the Green on a warm day.